Safety harness and coupling for window cleaners



SAFETTHARNESS AND COUPLING FOR WINDOW CLEANERS Filed Jan. 5. 1927 I 2Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. Baa/A /7//V X064 51% B. KUGLER SAFETY HARNESSAND COUPLING FOR WINDOW CLEANERS Nov. 15, 192 7.

Filed Jan; 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

SAFETY HARNESS AND COUPLING FOB WINDOW CLEANERS.

Application filed January 5, 1927. Serial No. 159,109.

My present inventiomin its broad aspect, has reference to improvementsin harness and couplings therefor for securely sup porting and holdingpersons engaged in oc- 'cupations necessitating work high above theground in precarious positions, as for instance-window cleaners; andmore particularly it is my purpose to provide a window cleaners harnesswhich will not become disengaged from the person of the wearerirrespective of his position; which will permit a window cleaner to movehimself about upon a window sill thereby to cleanse the whole surface ofa large pane, and that without readjusting the. harness; which can beattached to a wearer or removed with facility and which will not beuncomfortable or in the way when worn, and which isdurable and simple inconstruction, and (not prohibitively costly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unique and improvedcoupling for a window cleaners harness to attach said ,harness tosuitable anchorages provided on the frames of windows or in adjacentwall structure, such for instance as the anchorages shown in my priorPatents Nos. 1,449,516;

1,442,159, and 1,588,590, respectively grant ed May 27th, 1923; June.16th, 1923, and June 15th, 1926. My present coupling, in some respects,is an improvement on the coupling shown in my prior patent No.1,588,592, granted June 15th, 1926, and it is adapted for use eitherwith single or double stud anchorages, means being provided in eitherinstance to positively, securely and independently grip the heads of thestuds of an anchorage. My present coupling has a pair of unique andimproved lockingvpawls or detents which are connected to a' singleoperating rod for simultaneous .manipular tion by'the thumb of anoperator, and a spring normally urgessaid pawls or detents to a lookingor active position.

i I also improve upon the attaching ropes for the harness, and themethod whereby ropes are attached to a harness and to the anchoragecouplings. important objects and advantages'will be come apparent as thedescription of my in vention proceeds,but while I have in. the presentinstance defined for the sake of illustration an article of a certainspecific form, it will be understood that I do not'desire to limitmyself except as may be indi Other and equally cated by the scope of theclaims appended hereunto and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated an embodiment of my inventionFigure 1 is a perspective view of my harness assembly,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the back thereof, Figure 3 is a sideview of my roller chocks for the attaching ropes, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view ofmy improved coupling.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used todesignate like or similar parts throughout the several views thereof;

The numeral (1) designates the belt portion of my harness which isrelatively wide and is formed of heavy leather or other suitablematerial. One end of the belt (1) is formed with a. tongue (2) and theother end has mounted thereon a buckle (3) for engaging the openings'inthe tongue to attach the belt about the body of the wearer. In order toprevent the belt from slipping over the shoulders or down about the legsof the wearer, and also to properly position the belt, I have provided apair of straps (4) and (5) crossed'as at (6) in the back of the wearer(after the manner of suspenders) and riveted or otherwise attached as'at(7') 'to, the belt at both the frontand the back, and on the outsideface of the belt.

The two straps (4) and (5) are alsorivcted together as at (8) where theycross each other in the back. A chest strap (9) which is formed in twosections adjustably connected together bya buckle (10) prevents:thestraps (4) and (5) from slipping down over the shoulders of thewearer, and in order that the straps (4) and (5) may be adjusted inlength, they too are formed in sections with adjustable buckleconnect-ions Referring now to Figure2, which is a fragmentary back Viewof my belt; it will be noted that theends of the straps 1 and (5) are"riveted or otherwise attached beneath a reinforcing member (12) which isriveted or otherwise attached as at (13) to the back of the belt. Thereinforcing member (12) is preferably formed of heavy leather, but maybe of other suitable material. A pair of rollerchoclts generally des Fltignated by (14) are carried in spaced relationship on the back of thebelt, and each chock has a body portion (15) provided with a slot (16)in its base (17 through which the reinforcing member (12) extends and isriveted as at (18) to each side thereof, or sewn-it desired, to hold thechecks in place on the belt. Each chock has a pair of spaced rollers(19) in openings (20) through which are adapted to be trained, thesections (21) and (22) of my harness attaching or supporting rope (23).l

The rope (23) is doubled upon itself 1ntermediate its length as at (24),and the eye (25) is engaged in a figure-8 coupling (23), the other loopof which is connected with one of my anchorage couplings generallydesignated by (27). The two sections .(21) and (22) of my rope (23) aretrained through the cheeks (14). and are thereby connected securely tothe belt although free movement of the belt along the rope is permitted.Section (21) is looped about and within another figure-8 swivel coupling(28) and the free end thereof and the free end of section (22) are eachspliced to a swivel coupling (29). A keeper (30) is also provided forproperly positioning the sectlons. The swivel coupling (28) is connectedwith another of my anchorage couplings (27).

A pair of studs (31) are riveted to the belt so that when a wearer isnot actually engaged in work, or washing windows, the rope ends andcouplings (27) may be hooked 7 over the studs to retain the same out ofthe leiy anchorage coupling (27 is formed with an elongated body (32)which is centrally recessed as at (33) and flanged about the recess asat (34). Extending at an 'angle from the rear end of the body is anexvent detachment of the coupling from an anchorage I have provided apair of pivoted detents or pawls (37) and (38) which are spaced fromeach other on the body, and are adapted in their active position toengage the flange (34) in recess (33) thereby to ob vstruet passage orwithdrawal of studs from the recess. Each detent or pawl is providedwithan upstanding integral arm (39), to and between which is pivoted asat (40) a bar (41) having integrally formed thereon intermediate itslength an upstanding finger button(42).- .By pushing the button (42)forward and backward by the thumb the pawls or detents (37) and (38) areraised and lowered, and a spring (43) normally urges the pawls to theiractive position (shown in Figure 4) intercepting and obstructing therecess (33) to prevent withdrawal of anchorage studs therefrom.

In operation, my belt is engaged about the waist of a wearer. theshoulder straps positioned and adjusted, and the chest strap properlyadjusted to comfortably and snugly atlix the harness on the wearer. Theconplings (27) are engaged over the studs to hold the rope ends out ofthe way. )Vhen a window is to be washed. the couplings (27) aredisengaged and one coupling is engaged with an anchorage on each side ofthe window frame. the rope (27) in which case extends across the back ofthe window washer to supporthim. although the belt is slidable on therope to permit the workman to cleanse the whole surface of the panewithout adjusting the belt. Manifestly the window washer cannot fallfrom the window, or otherwise become hurt while my harness is properlyattached. and neither is he inconvenienced in his work. The couplings(27) cannot become accidentally disengaged from the anchorages since thedetents or pawls (37) and (38) cannot be removed from the anchoragesuntil the rod is pushed to release them. My harness and couplingtherefore serve a practical and useful purpose, and are, I believe, amarked improvement upon others which may be found on the market.

)Vhile in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described in thespecification such combination and arrangement of elements as constitutethe preferred embodiments of my invention. it is nevertheless desired toemphasize the fact that interpretation of my invention should only beconclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim v 1. ,A safety harness comprising a. belt, straps attached tothe belt for disposition on the shoulders of a wearer to support andretain the belt. a breast strap attached to the shoulder straps toprevent disengagement of the same. and means carried by the belt forattachment to a base.

2. A safety harness comprising a belt. ad-

justablc straps attached to the belt for disposition over the shouldersof a wearer to support the belt. said straps being crossed at the backof the wearer. an adjustable breast strap attached to the shoulderstrap? to prevent disarrangcment of the same. and means carried by thebelt for attachment to a base. said belt being slidably engaged withsaid means.

.3. A safety harness comprising a belt. ad justablcstraps attached tothe belt for disp sition over the shoulders of a wearer to support andretain thebeltt. said straps being crossed at the back of the wearer. anadjustable breast strap attached to the shoulder straps to preventdisengagement of the same, a pair of roller chocks carried on the belt,and means extending through said checks for attaching said belt to abase.

4. In a safety harness for Window cleaners, a belt, straps forpositioning and securing the belt on the body of a wearer, a pair ofchecks having slots therein, a reinforcing member extending through theslots in the chocks and secured to the belt tor attaching the choeks,means for attaching the belt to a base trained through said chocksthereby to permit sliding movement of the belt with respect to saidmeans, studs on the belt, and couplings on the ends of said means forengaging a base and also for engaging the studs to hold said means outof the Way when the belt is not attached to ,a base.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereunto.

BEN J AMIN KUGLER.

